We all love basking in the sun once in a while especially when we have a sunny-destination vacation, but the reality is that the sun can cause serious skin damage if you overdo it and without proper protection. I definitely got sunburnt on my recent trip to Mexico and it did not feel nice! It’s important to make sure you apply the right kind of sunscreen and have a good after-sun care body routine to follow after sun exposure. And before we get started, make sure to check out My Summer Skincare Routine to help you with having the healthiest and clearest skin for those no-makeup days at the beach to round off your entire skincare routine.
After-sun products are made specifically to moisturize the skin after prolonged sun exposure with its soothing ingredients and in some ways speed up the sunburn healing process and peeling that comes with sun overexposure. After-sun skin products also help decrease inflammation, limit skin dehydration and replenish the moisture lost from the sun’s UV rays and other environmental factors we can encounter when we’re out and about.
Symptoms Of Too Much Sun Exposure
But first, it’s good to know in the event that you get too much sun and end up sunburnt or with sun poisoning so here is what you need to look out for:
A basic sunburn can be painful and redness and pain can start in 6 hours and last for at least 48 hours. Your skin may also be hot to the touch, blotchy, and even start to swell and you may also feel fatigued. In a more severe case of sunburn, you may also have nausea, dizziness, chills, fever, and even rashes. Should you have a second-degree sunburn, your skin may blister, ooze and you can even faint. If the sunburn becomes too painful, immediately consult a doctor for medical treatment. Sun overexposure is no joke and you could have severe consequences if you don’t proactively protect yourself.
But sunburn isn’t the only risk of too much sun – you can also be dehydrated, get heat exhaustion or heat/sunstroke, or even hyponatremia (which is when you lose a lot of water in your body through sweating and your sodium levels don’t replenish).
Remember, if you’re unsure, it’s best to consult a medical professional.
Don’t forget to check out my Guide To Sunscreen Use And Choosing The Safest One For You to help with sun protection
After-Sun Care Product Recommendations
Before you begin your after-sun care body routine, it would be helpful to know what kind of after-suncare products to purchase. These products come in many different formulas ranging from sprays, gels, creams and lotions. After-sun care products are usually lighter with a high water content to help with dehydration and to avoid keeping the heat from the sunburn on your skin. Some of the ingredients that would be good to have include aloe, shea butter, squalane, and Vitamin E.
La Roche-Posay Posthelios After-Sun Face & Body Soothing Gel
The #1 dermatologist-recommended brand in Canada, the La Roche-Posay Posthelios After-Sun gel provides 48 hours of moisture and soothes the skin with Vitamin E to provide an instant cooling effect for sunburn relief. The cooling effect is also equivalent to -3.6°C just 2 minutes after application. It is also formulated with Thermal Spring Water, aloe vera, and Vitamin E and also has antioxidant protection.
Avène Thermal Spring Water Spray
I’ve been a long-time user of the Avène thermal spray – since 2008 to be exact and I found it to have worked better than other thermal water sprays. There are so many uses for this including sunburn relief and healing, helping with bug bites, refreshing the skin on a hot day, and even doubling as a sensitive skin toner. It really is healing water and is safe for all ages including babies. They have also done many clinical and scientific studies on how this heals many different types of skin problems. It is filled with minerals and microflora that soothe the skin without drying it out.
This after-sun care product from Sisley is pricey but it not only addresses after-sun exposure but it helps prolong your tan as well. Its formula soothes, hydrates, and refreshes the skin after soaking in some UV rays and has soothing ingredients that reduces the sensation of hot skin. With shea butter and plant glycerin to soften the skin, it also includes a small amount of self-tanning ingredients to naturally extend the look of your tan. It’s non-greasy and quickly absorbed.
Coola Radical Recovery Eco-Cert Organic After Sun Lotion
This ultra-soothing and hydrating lotion has an advanced blend of time-honored ingredients for environmentally-damaged skin recovery. With organic agave and aloe vera with Coola’s curated range of antioxidant and vitamin-intensive boosters, this lotion will help you speed up the healing process of too much sun exposure. The lavender oil in this lotion also provides anti-inflammatory benefits. 70% of the ingredients are certified organic with 99% of ingredients from natural origin.
Avène Cicalfate Restorative Protective Cream
Avène is a very healing skincare brand so of course I had to share one of their most popular products for that purpose. Also known as just Cicalfate, this purifying cream immediately soothes discomfort and promotes the restoration of sensitive and reactive skin in 48 hours. It forms a protective film where reactivity occurs in the superficial layers of the epidermis and creates a bandage effect for protection. It also contains the Avène Thermal Spring Water ingredient in it. This cream is for anyone looking to restore dehydrated skin, not just those who need after-sun healing and is usable for intimate areas as well. Many people who are undergoing cancer treatments also use this cream for healing and it has worked very well to heal skin 4 times faster.
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream
This award-winning cream absorbs instantly into the skin to relieve dehydrated skin. It is a rich moisturizer that provides quick and long-term relief for distressed skin. It has ingredients like colloidal oatmeal to soothe the skin and keep it smooth and comfortable only after one use as well as shea butter to moisturize and support the skin barrier with vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids. More than 2 times immediate increase in skin hydration was measured through their clinical studies after each use as well.
After-Sun Care Body Routine
Now that you know the right products to buy to help nourish your skin, here’s the after-sun care body routine you need to follow after sun exposure at the beach, on a hike, or just after experiencing a hot, sunny day out.
1 – Take A Cooling Shower
Take a shower to cool your body down but don’t use hot water as it will add to the burn you may be feeling from the after-effects of the sun. I know, we all love hot showers but in this circumstance, it’s better to opt for a warm or even cold shower if you can to cool your skin down.
Also, to remove sweat, sunscreen, and other dirt you accumulate throughout the day, don’t forget to use your body wash. My favorite is the Native Eucalyptus And Mint body wash with their simple and natural ingredients – plus the scent is so refreshing. Use my link for 20% off!
2 – But Don’t Exfoliate
Remember, your skin is damaged after sun exposure and you can further damage your skin by exfoliating it. Your skin is in a fragile state and it’s a step that’s good to skip until a week later. Sometimes, exfoliants are quite harsh on the skin especially if they are physical exfoliants – you can end up scratching up your skin like this. Here is more information on whether Physical Or Chemical Exfoliators Are Better For Your Skin when you’re ready to start exfoliating again!
3 – Apply Aloe Vera And/Or A Heavy Moisturizer
The most common moisturizer to use after a sun burn is quite simply just aloe vera. If you conveniently have an aloe vera plant at home, definitely use it! But if you’re out of town and traveling, there’s many different options to choose from to just buy close to pure aloe vera. I like the Nature Republic Aloe Vera 92% Soothing Gel. Sometimes I feel like aloe vera on its own isn’t quiet enough and I like to put some moisturizer on top of it if my skin is extremely dry and burnt from the sun.
4 – Continue To Apply Often And As Needed On Your Body
It isn’t a one-time fix, you’ll need to continue to apply aloe vera or other moisturizers to continue rehydrating your skin, stop the peeling, and soothe the skin. For the most part, you may need to do this for up to a few weeks since the peeling process happens about a week or so later (at least for me) and you’ll want to constantly moisturize your body. Until you feel like your skin is back to normal, that’s when you should “stop”. For me, I always apply lotion to my body after my showers and it’s just been a habit since I was young.
5 – Use A Cool Compress
If your skin continues to feel hot and painful from the sun, you can use a cool compress to soothe your skin and even help any swelling go down. Don’t use an ice pack as you can further damage your skin tissues and increase the risk of infection. It can even cause frostbite especially when your skin is so fragile and right now it’s about balance – so cool is key! You don’t want to shock your body again after what it’s just been through with the sun.
6 – Stay Hydrated And Rest
The last (but not least) tip to your after-sun care body routine is to give your body what it needs is to rest so you can recover faster as well as continually stay hydrated by drinking enough water. The sun really takes so much out of us out and not only do you need to rehydrate externally, you’ll need to rehydrate internally. Having a good water bottle that can hold a lot (and keep certain temperatures) are a lifesaver in these cases! I recommend the Stanley Quencher H2.0 Flowstate Tumbler 64 oz , the Simple Modern Trek Tumbler 50 oz, or the Simple Modern Summit Water Bottle 128 oz as they come in larger sizes, keep your drink cold for many hours, and they’re not plastic (although a little heavy). For a smaller size, I like the Stanley Iceflow Flip Straw Tumbler 30 oz as I use this on a daily basis. Here are also 8 Ways To Stay Hydrated For Great Skin While Traveling.
To better prepare for your travels, get more Travel Tips here!